General Hesitation on acceleration day after filling washer bottle

Sverige · Dec 10, 2017

Hi all. Yesterday I filled my windscreen washer reservoir a little bit sloppily (couldn't help but spill as the bottle was glugging so much). Today my normally reliable 1.2 16V 2000 punto is hesitating on acceleration in lower gears once the car is warmed up.

Maybe it's unconnected but where should I start to look? Are any of those covered units near the washer bottle anything which controls ignition? Maybe it's just damp ht leads so I can try some wd40, but any tips or pointers will be much appreciated!!

sandaru · Dec 10, 2017

If you disconnected the battery may be now ecu relearning or if you refill the radiator there might be air lock. Try to rev high around 4000 and release the accelerator while driving. These are my check points and the actions i am taking for a same age automatic punto

Sverige · Dec 10, 2017

Thanks sandaru. I didn't disconnect the battery or refill radiator. Just filled the windscreen washer bottle.

Scudmonkey · Dec 11, 2017

Spray WD40 on all the electrics that side of the engine, maybe some of the screenwash got onto something. Never hurts to use WD40 on anything electrical under the bonnet

flisko · Dec 11, 2017

Sverige said:
Hi all. Yesterday I filled my windscreen washer reservoir a little bit sloppily (couldn't help but spill as the bottle was glugging so much). Today my normally reliable 1.2 16V 2000 punto is hesitating on acceleration in lower gears once the car is warmed up.

Maybe it's unconnected but where should I start to look? Are any of those covered units near the washer bottle anything which controls ignition? Maybe it's just damp ht leads so I can try some wd40, but any tips or pointers will be much appreciated!!

did you maybe pour washer fluid to here

Sverige · Dec 14, 2017

Well it hasn't reoccurred yet, so I guess it was just moisture which dried out. Will splash some wd40 around though, as a precaution.

Sverige · Dec 15, 2017

Ok, it turns out the problem hasn't gone away, it's just that my wife didn't think it was worth telling me that I was misfiring and running lumpy! Great, ok well now I know at least.

Car is now running on three cylinders full time, even at idle. There was a "burning rubber" smell after my wife drove it a short trip today. Something overheating? I'll get to look at it tomorrow and will consult the Haynes manual, but I guess I need to be checking the spark plug condition, HT leads, anything else?

I think the washer bottle filling was probably incidental. I can't see how it would cause this a week later?

Brendan W · Dec 15, 2017

Run it in the dark and see if you can see sparks jumping from the HT lead(s)

Sverige · Dec 16, 2017

Thanks Brendan I'll give that a try. I've never worked on this engine before and I see the first hurdle to clear is to get that black plastic engine cover off. I barely looked at it yesterday so will consult the Haynes and get to it later today. It's in a garage so running it in the dark to look for sparks should be possible.

judderbar · Dec 16, 2017

Sverige said:
Thanks Brendan I'll give that a try. I've never worked on this engine before and I see the first hurdle to clear is to get that black plastic engine cover off. I barely looked at it yesterday so will consult the Haynes and get to it later today. It's in a garage so running it in the dark to look for sparks should be possible.

If you are going to be doing your own maintenance and you still have the original clips on the air hoses vacuum connection and heater hoses you can get the click 'R' tool you need for about ten euros from Biltema.

http://www.biltema.fi/fi/Autoilu---.../Pihdit/Letkuliitinpihdit-Click-R-2000028407/

http://www.robba.net/upload/2017/10...e-9-clic-r-hose-clamps-l-18da210d0e5accf1.jpg

Notice you unlock the clip by turning the pliers over compared to locking the clip - different jaws go on the same clip part for the two different operations.

With a bit of practice it takes just a second or so to remove or install these clamps. Using jubilee clips is going to be a major pain.

Sverige · Dec 16, 2017

judderbar said:
If you are going to be doing your own maintenance and you still have the original clips on the air hoses vacuum connection and heater hoses you can get the click 'R' tool you need for about ten euros from Biltema.

http://www.biltema.fi/fi/Autoilu---.../Pihdit/Letkuliitinpihdit-Click-R-2000028407/

http://www.robba.net/upload/2017/10...e-9-clic-r-hose-clamps-l-18da210d0e5accf1.jpg

Notice you unlock the clip by turning the pliers over compared to locking the clip - different jaws go on the same clip part for the two different operations.

With a bit of practice it takes just a second or so to remove or install these clamps. Using jubilee clips is going to be a major pain.

Thanks Juddrbar, I was wondering what the heck those clips were. I already opened them with a screwdriver under the overlapping parts and a quick twist to pry open. I was going to ask how to reattach them. Did I do a bad thing or can I still use the pliers you linked to and resecure them? I was thinking I would try with plumbers grips, but I see there is a special tool.

So far I got the old HT leads off and one spark plug out, which is looking a bit worn. It has FIAT logo on the ngk plug, so maybe original fit? Car only has around 110k km on the clock so not a high miler. Quite the reverse for a 17 year old car. HT leads might also be original so well due for a change.

judderbar · Dec 16, 2017

Sverige said:
Thanks Juddrbar, I was wondering what the heck those clips were. I already opened them with a screwdriver under the overlapping parts and a quick twist to pry open. I was going to ask how to reattach them. Did I do a bad thing or can I still use the pliers you linked to and resecure them? I was thinking I would try with plumbers grips, but I see there is a special tool.

So far I got the old HT leads off and one spark plug out, which is looking a bit worn. It has FIAT logo on the ngk plug, so maybe original fit? Car only has around 110k km on the clock so not a high miler. Quite the reverse for a 17 year old car. HT leads might also be original so well due for a change.

As long as the clip is not bent sideways so it wants to work loose once you fit it I am thinking it should be fine. Many people here are using wire clippers to put the clips on and off. I think they are using those curved ones a bit like nail clippers?

Sverige · Dec 17, 2017

My local car parts place wants 704 Swedish kronor, about £70 for a set of HT leads... guess I will take a trip to the local Biltema after all. How specific are HT leads as Biltema doesn't sell a set for Fiat.

Here are the choices - anything from 199 to 599
http://www.biltema.se/sv/Sok/?query=tändkabelsats

Also, anyone know the tightening torque for putting spark plugs into the head of this car? Thanks all

Sverige · Dec 17, 2017

This is the spark plug I pulled out to take a look at. How would you judge the condition / age?

flisko · Dec 17, 2017

plugs are still original, they are 4 times over the miles to change

Brendan W · Dec 17, 2017

Sverige said:
This is the spark plug I pulled out to take a look at. How would you judge the condition / age?

Looks dark and dry which I would interpret as overfuelling or misfiring. Comparison with the others would tell a lot.
I must admit I do not torque plugs in. There is a point when you can feel the compression washer starting to squash. Don't go to the point that it is completely hard and flat.
I use a 30cm length of garden hose to start the plugs into the head. It helps reduce the chance of cross threading especially for plugs in deep wells.
My HT leads are original. Before condemning the old clean them, dirt retains moisture, spray with water dispersant, WD-40 or equivalent, and check both ends of the lead for corrosion.

Sverige · Dec 17, 2017

Thanks Flisko and Brendan. I think I'll defo change those plugs then and Brendan I'll take your advice and clean the leads first. Here we don't seem to get wd40 so easily, but everywhere sells CRC 5-56 which seems to be similar stuff:

http://www.katsafados.com/crc-5-56.html

g8rpi · Dec 17, 2017

Sverige said:
Thanks Flisko and Brendan. I think I'll defo change those plugs then and Brendan I'll take your advice and clean the leads first. Here we don't seem to get wd40 so easily, but everywhere sells CRC 5-56 which seems to be similar stuff:

http://www.katsafados.com/crc-5-56.html

CRC 5-56 is similar to and possibly better than WD-40

Robert G8RPI/

flisko · Dec 17, 2017

Brendan W · Dec 17, 2017

Back in the day DampStart was used. It was common to see a lot of people using it frequently in the Winter. They would eventually discover that it couldn't cure bad contact breakers

Holts AQ9R 300ml Damp Start: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

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